Jennifer Sparacino creates intensely vibrant paintings of animals. Based in Chilliwack, BC, Jennifer’s subject matter includes local animals like rabbits and bears, as well as inhabitants of tropical locales like tigers and colourful birds.

I really enjoy the sense of focus in Jennifer’s artworks. The artist’s paintings manage to look wildly energetic even when the composition is a relatively simple close-up portrait of a single figure. In our previous feature of Jennifer’s colourful paintings of west coast wildlife, we looked at the way the artist tends toward a simplified, monochromatic background. This is still true in many of her 2018 paintings, but in some the artist renders lush foliage and other natural backgrounds with the same stylized confidence as her animals.

Jennifer also demonstrates an expertise with colour theory in the way that she utilizes planes of colour to create volume. Darker shades are pushed back by bright yellows, reds, and lime greens, allowing the viewer to get a full picture of both foreground and background.

About the author

Dallas Jeffs is the Editor of Artist Run Website's blog. They hold a degree in Critical and Cultural Practices from Emily Carr University of Art and Design, as well as a certificate in Technical Writing from BCIT. Dallas has a passion for speaking and writing about art, and sharing that interest with others. In their studio practice they are an illustrator and budding tattoo artist, but they consider themselves a writer foremost. If you like art, books and culture with a science fiction twist, check out Dallas' personal blog, HappySpaceNoises or their art on Instagram.